Photos of "Lil Miss"

It brings me so much JOY to watch both of these super cute girls and best friends together.  They get along so well and have certainly made up for the year Alyssa was gone in KY   I don't even want to think about her leaving again yet.

Here are just a few of D&A doing their thing and always making the most of every minute!!

Sorry the pictures are turned, I can't figure out why my camera started to do this?  Anyway the first 2 are of them together and this last one is of Demi going to an all boy birthday party at Laser Tag.  As I was taking this I was thinking about how grown up she is becoming and how proud of her I am for who she is today.

Be back shortly with the prompt for Day 9 of giving the gift of..................  What can you give today?

xoxoxo

Day 8 ~ The Gift of A Message.....

Sorry for the late prompt tonight for Day 8.  We have been trying to get ready for the snow and possible blizzard tomorrow.  I love Texas but we have the craziest weather here! Tomorrow we are celebrating my mom's 71st birthday if the weather isn't too bad.  I am looking forward to another family day to watch some football and just hang out.  We also have to get Demi ready for another MAPS Science Test on Tuesday.  I don't know if you have these tests along with TAKS but they seem to be every week which I really don't care for and wish they would go away. 

So tonight I will leave my sweet daughter a mirror message.  She loves them and I love leaving them.  You can also leave a message on a glass door, under the pillow and or anywhere you think would be fun and make your loved ones feel special.  One night a few years back I cut out lots of hearts and hung them all over the house with ribbon.  That was fun and a big hit. 

So what would be fun for tomorrow??  Any ideas??? 

I will be back in the am with another prompt and to give you an update on our weather.  It could be a fun day for the kiddos if we get the 6 inches they are predicting.  Sleep well and sweet dreams.

xoxoxoxo
Diana    

Ali Edward's OLW (One Little Word)....

For the last 4 years I have selected a word that I have thought would be indicative of where I was for the year and a word that I wanted to focus on throughout the next 365 days.  I am excited about this year and am ready for the changes to come even if closing some doors may be emotional and painful.  

Here is Ali's list of words to review that her followers added in her blog.  You can venture over to her blog at http://www.aliedward.com/ and then go to her blog once you arrive at her website.



So today I am hoping to pinpoint my word for 2011. 

I will be back shortly with the Day 8 prompt of The Gift of Giving _____________.

Diana

Day 7 ~ The Gift of Words and "I Love You" - a must read story!

THE HEART OF A TEACHER
By Paula Fox

He was in the first third grade class I taught at Saint Mary's School in Morris, Minnesota. All 34 of my students were dear to me, but Mark Eklund was one in a million. Very neat in appearance, he had that happy-to-be-alive attitude that made even his occasional mischievousness delightful.

Mark talked incessantly. I had to remind him again and again that talking without permission was not acceptable. What impressed me so much, though, was his sincere response every time I had to correct him for misbehaving. "Thank you for correcting me, Sister!" I didn't know what to make of it at first, but before long I became accustomed to hearing it many times a day.

One morning my patience was growing thin when Mark talked once too often, and then I made a novice teacher's mistake. I looked at Mark and said, "If you say one more word, I am going to tape your mouth shut!" It wasn't ten seconds later when Chuck blurted out, "Mark is talking again." I hadn't asked any of the students to help me watch Mark, but since I had stated the punishment in front of the class, I had to act on it. I remember the scene as if it had occurred this morning. I walked to my desk, very deliberately opened my drawer and took out a roll of masking tape. Without saying a word, I proceeded to Mark's desk, tore off two pieces of tape and made a big X with them over his mouth. I then returned to the front of the room. As I glanced at Mark to see how he was doing, he winked at me. That did it! I started laughing. The class cheered as I walked back to Mark's desk, removed the tape, and shrugged my shoulders. His first words were, "Thank you for correcting me, Sister."

At the end of the year, I was asked to teach junior-high math. The years flew by, and before I knew it Mark was in my classroom again. He was more handsome than ever and just as polite. Since he had to listen carefully to my instruction in the "new math," he did not talk as much in ninth grade as he had in third. One Friday, things just didn't feel right. We had worked hard on a new concept all week, and I sensed that the students were frowning, frustrated with themselves and edgy with one another. I had to stop this crankiness before it got out of hand. So I asked them to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then I told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed me the papers. Charlie smiled. Mark said, "Thank you for teaching me, Sister. Have a good weekend." That Saturday, I wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and I listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday I gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" I heard whispered. "I never knew that meant anything to anyone! I didn't know others liked me so much." No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. I never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another again.

That group of students moved on. Several years later, after I returned from vacation, my parents met me at the airport. As we were driving home, Mother asked me the usual questions about the trip, the weather, my experiences in general. There was a lull in the conversation. Mother gave Dad a sideways glance and simply said, "Dad?" My father cleared his throat as he usually did before something important. "The Eklunds called last night," he began. "Really?" I said. "I haven't heard from them in years. I wonder how Mark is." Dad responded quietly. "Mark was killed in Vietnam," he said. "The funeral is tomorrow, and his parents would like it if you could attend." To this day I can still point to the exact spot on I-494 where Dad told me about Mark.

I had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. Mark looked so handsome, so mature. All I could think at that moment was, "Mark, I would give all the masking tape in the world if only you would talk to me." The church was packed with Mark's friends. Chuck's sister sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Why did it have to rain on the day of the funeral? It was difficult enough at the graveside. The pastor said the usual prayers, and the bugler played taps. One by one those who loved Mark took a last walk by the coffin and sprinkled it with holy water. I was the last one to bless the coffin. As I stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to me. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. I nodded as I continued to stare at the coffin. "Mark talked about you a lot," he said.

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates headed to Chuck's farmhouse for lunch. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting for me. "We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it." Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. I knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which I had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him. "Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it." Mark's classmates started to gather around us. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. I keep it in the top drawer of my desk at home." Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album." "I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's in my diary." Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said without batting an eyelash. "I think we all saved our lists." That's when I finally sat down and cried. I cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.

I live by this daily and often tell those I love that I do only because after the death of dad I know how short life can be for some!  I often write and journal these same thoughts but I think tonight I may scrap a page about those in my family and list all the things I love about them.   And then may do one for my friends just because I am blessed with some true and dear ones.  Love both my family and friends, heck I just love people!  So today's prompt is one that can really make a difference to those in your life that mean the world to you!

Hope you had a great Friday!  Enjoy your evening and I will be back with my Day 8 prompt for tomorrow.  Any ideas plz feel free and we will post yours for tomorrow.

xoxoxo
Diana 

Day 6 ~ The Gift of a Compliment

So today's prompt is giving someone a compliment.  Easy Peasy!!!

So we are off to visit my cute neice Brylee and to make them dinner....woohoo!!!

Hope you had a great Thursday so far.  It is absolutely beautiful today, 63 and this weekend we are expecting snow flurries.  Normally when they say that it means inches....hoping my body can get ready as we swing the other direction.  hehe

xoxoxo
Diana

Child Like Faith (you will love this story)

Child Like Faith



A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet.

She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three

times, even.. The total had to be exactly perfect.. No chance here for mistakes.

Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she

slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with

the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.

She waited patiently for

the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment.

Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat

with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a

quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!

'And what do you want?' the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of

voice.. I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages,' he

said without waiting for a reply to his question.

'Well, I want to talk

to you about my brother,' Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. 'He's

really, really sick....and I want to buy a miracle.'

'I beg your pardon?'

said the pharmacist.

'His name is Andrew and he has something bad

growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how

much does a miracle cost?'

'We don't sell miracles here, little girl.

I'm sorry but I can't help you,' the pharmacist said, softening a little.

'Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get

the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.'

The pharmacist's brother was

a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, 'What kind of a

miracle does your brother need?'

' I don't know,' Tess replied with her

eyes welling up. I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an

operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money..'

'How much do you have?' asked the man from Chicago .

'One dollar

and eleven cents,' Tess answered barely audible.

'And it's all the money

I have, but I can get some more if I need to.'

'Well, what a

coincidence,' smiled the man. 'A dollar and eleven cents---the exact price of a

miracle for little brothers.'

He took her money in one hand and with

the other hand he grasped her mitten and said 'Take me to where you live. I want

to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need.'

That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon,

specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it

wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.

Mom and Dad were

happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.

'That surgery,' her Mom whispered. 'was a real miracle. I wonder how

much it would have cost?'

Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a

miracle cost....one dollar and eleven cents...plus the faith of a little child.

In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need.
 
http://joy-n-jesus.blogspot.com/2011/01/child-like-faith.html (thanks for sharing this today!)
 
xoxoxo

Day 5 ~ The Gift of a Telephone Call...Just Because!

Where does the time go everyday?  Why does it go by so fast?  Some days I wish there were more hours in a day and then other days I am praying that time would just slow down or stop?  Ever been there? 

Today I went to Target to get a few groceries.  I got a small carry cart and off I went.  (I think that I get the small one with hopes that I will get just a few things and spend just a few bucks.)  But every time I am walking with the cart filled and overflowing and then I have something in my hand.  You would think that after so many times I would just get a big one but no, not me, haha.  Anyway as I was finishing up, this cute man that could have been my dad, came up to me and told me to take his cart that he didn't need it.  Can I just say that it is the little things in life that mean so much or they do to me.  Thank you for being so kind and observant because I know he could have just kept doing his own thing without stopping to help me.

The Day 5 prompt is the gift of a telephone call today/tonight.  Call an old friend, your grandmother, your mom, your ? just to say I was thinking about you. 

I will be back tomorrow to leave a prompt in the morning.  As you can see I have decided that this will consist of 365 days of giving the gift of.....I will give you prompts but feel free to do whatever you would like on the days you can find or make the time.  No pressure!  I just want everyone to feel the joy of giving from the heart and to be the difference you would like to see in your neighborhood and world.

Sending you big hugs and lots of kisses from TX -
xoxoxoxo

Diana  

    

Day 4 ~ The Gift of a Card.....

Good Evening friends! 

Today I want to encourage you to give the gift of a card or ATC to someone, a friend, a coworker, a stranger, a family member and or one of your children.   You can email one from http://www.dayspring.com/ and or make one tonight and give it away tomorrow.

Thankful today for all the extra training I am getting which I know will be so helpful in the days and months to come.  Did I say how much I enjoy teaching and being surrounded by so many wonderful men and women who enjoy what they do.

I am "Thankful Tuesday" for:
1.  Girl Scout's and my daughter's troop leaders - the cookies!!!
2.  A car that is running
3.  Dr Pepper
4. My Faith
5. The Gift of Kindness, Love and Compassion from so many....thanks for all my friends and family for your continued support and encouragement over the last year.  There will be a rainbow at the end of this storm soon <3 

So love "Live To Dance" tonight!  The kids are so stinkin' cute and the JOY that radiates from them is so contagious.

Hope you had a great day and I will be back with the Day 5 and The Gift of ............!

xoxoxo
Diana

Day 3 of PROJECT 365 ~ The Gift of Time.....

It has been a great day and I am even more excited about this year and what is ahead for both Demi and I.

I am excited and a little nervous about my new position and tutoring the students that I will have in my care. Not nervous about the teaching part but the content.  I don't think in my wildest dreams that I would be teaching and only wish I had studied more :-).  I will say that teaching school has changed so much and how they teach is completely different than how I learned.  I love learning and will enjoy this journey even more after my students accomplish their own goals.

Demi and I enjoyed a wonderful walk today.  The best part was running into one of our neighbors and good friend whom we dont see often because she is in junior high now.  It was so awesome to see her and to see how grown up she has become in 6 months.  The other wonderful part of our walk was seeing Demi's best friend.  We started our walk to see her after some medical issues she had this past week.  The best news of all was her dad is getting a leave from the Army to come home for 2 weeks.  The news brought tears to my eyes because I know how much Kacey needs to see him and how good it will be for all of them.  God is awesome!

Finally I am going to keep my options open on my OLW for '11 and wanted to add a few more to my list today.

JOURNEY
CELEBRATE
DREAM
LOVE
CHANGE
OPEN  

I wanted to see if you had any ideas on what would be way for us to go about our giving and acts of kindness and compassion. I keep thinking about coming up with a list of things for us to do in one week and then documenting what those things were and or a list of things we would like to do.

Also I was wondering if I put together a drive for bone marrow donors if you would be interested in participating with a FREE mail order swab kit?  I would really like to see about getting several hundred friends to join in this wonderful idea of giving the gift of life.  Would you do and would you be willing to share this idea with all your friends and followers?  I am going to do this at the school(s) that I work in and figure I can get several to join me.  Just an idea but one that I get so excited about as I await my call about my blood that they just drew last week to make sure I am ready to go on to the next step.

Day 3 ~ The gift of time....... done!

Here is hoping you have a terrific Tuesday and please feel free to share my post with those you think might have an interest in becoming a bone marrow donor.  Let's change the world one person at a time starting tomorrow!!!

xoxoxoxo
Diana

Day 2 - New Day and A New Job

Today we enjoyed staying in our pjs because we missed church.  We thought our church started new times but that doesn't until next week, darn it.  We love going to church and so missing today on the first SONday of the year is a bummer but we will get back to it next week with a new service and fasting.  Here is our church website in case you are looking to hear a great message every week at http://www.milestonechurch.com/.  I always like to watch Charles Stanley and I have to say I enjoyed his message today about "living by principles" and Joel Osteen.  You can google Joel to for his site and blog.   

I had a great 2 weeks off and thoroughly enjoyed the holidays.  Love spending time with family and friends! I have enjoyed spending quality time with my daughter too.  It seems that although we are together we don't have our heart to heart talks like we used to.  It warms my heart to know we can talk and talk openly about our feelings.  She is such an amazing young lady!

I have to say that I am rethinking my one little word for 2011.  I just want to make sure I choose the word that will best fit my life and the direction we are heading for this year and this place on our journey. Some of the words I am considering:

HOPE
BELIEVE
NEW
INTENTION
PURPOSE
LIVE
CREATE
POWER
OPEN
ME (this one needs further explanation I know...)
PURSUE
PASSIONate

I wanted to share this with you too.  I love dragonflies ever since I saw the movie "DragonFly".  A friend shared its meaning with me last week and I really love what it means.  Check this out:  The meaning of a dragonfly changes with each culture. The main symbolisms of the dragonfly are renewal, positive force and the power of life in general. Dragonflies can also be a symbol of the sense of self that comes with maturity. Also, as a creature of the wind, the dragonfly frequently represents change. And as a dragonfly lives a short life, it knows it must live its life to the fullest with the short time it has - which is a lesson for all of us!  I think I am going to start collecting them too!


Anyway I start my new job as an intervention specialist tomorrow at one elementary that I have been subbing at all year.  I am excited and am looking forward to my new responsibities.  I am hopeful that I will still find a long term subbing position and or full time teaching position sooner than later.  I love what I have been doing but it just doesn't pay enough.  I am thankful for everything I have learned up to this point and have loved working with students in varied grade levels.  Here is to tomorrow and my new job!!

So were you able to find something to do on Day 2?  I hope so!  I found myself on the receiving side of someone else's kindness and still need to find a lil something to do.  MY sweet daughter found time to reach out today which I love.  I have to get my thinking cap on because I like to think of creative and different things I can do.  I am looking forward to making this a conscious effort to put this into my list of things to do and will welcome other RAKS as the opportunities present themselves.  Some things are just RANDOM and I love that too.  

This week I will be posting New Year Resolutions for both Demi and I and we are going to put together a bucket list, one for our family, one for her and one for me.  I am looking forward to getting it down on paper since we discussed some of them today.  It has been a couple of years since I have had the focus I needed on a daily basis and quite frankly want to get away from flying by the seat of my pants.  I want to be a better planner in all areas of my life and I think this will really help!  Do you make a list and do you have a bucket list?  I would love to read yours if you are sharing them on your blog. 

I am off to tuck the lil one in since it is our first day back to school and work.  Hate that our vacay is coming to an end but looking forward to making some money again.  Have a great day back to work if you are going and if not enjoy your time and we will see you back here tomorrow with Day 3 of 365 of !!  Night <3

xoxoxo
Diana

 

Day 1 ~ Cultivating JOY with Unconditional Acts of Kindness, Compassion, and Love

Happy New year again everyone!

Today marks the first day of our journey of 365 days of cultivating JOY through unconditional acts of kindness both on the giving and receiving sides.

I hope you will feel encouraged to practice simple acts of kindness starting with yourself and then with someone you cross paths with today.

So the challenge of cultivating JOY and for random acts of kindness to flourish we need to begin in the hardest places, our own hearts.  For kindness to be twice blessed, it will be important to find time each day to refuel your spirit by doing something wonderful for yourself.  The simple acts of kindness towards ourselves could be many things from taking a bubble bath, reading a book, planting a garden, and or getting your hair done.  It is a lot easier to truly give from overflow from a heart that is filled with love and peace.  I will admit I am not great at this one because I like being the giving side and doing for others.  I also know too that the cup will runneth dry when we don't take the time to fill up our cups as we often say.  This will be more challenging for me but I am looking forward to pampering myself in ways that will keep my fire ignited with enthusiam to really make a change in the world not just for one day but for days, months and years to come.   The second commandment in the bible says "Love your neighbor as yourself." Matt 22:38.  This commandment says that we should loves others as we love ourselves.  So when you find it hard to do wonderful things for yourself and without guilt, remember that God instructs us to do so. I love that Melody Ross is putting together courses called Soul Restoration. As women we tend to take are of everyone else and so many days we have nothing else left for ourselves.  So let's change that this year.  Today, right now! 

So the second part to cultivating JOY is finding or making time to perform deliberate or random, sometimes thought of as unconditional acts of kindess and compassion.  There are so many ways to go about this such as giving to someone without their knowledge just for the desire to give from the heart and wanting to make someone else feel better.  Other acts can be deliberate where you make a conscious effort or plan to make someone you know or a complete stranger's day a little easier or brighter.  There are so many wonderful and creative ways you can do this as well.  I have mentioned a few the last month of RAKS that I am aware of that have given some wonderful friends and family HOPE again to include me on the receiving end. 

I am commiting to living this year with intention and purpose EVERYDAY.  By the way, my word for 2011 is intention and believing that by living to give will cultivate JOY and a life that matters.  In wanting to leave a lasting legacy for my daughter, I am bringing her on board this year for her to do this with me, both by herself and as a team.  TEAM WILLIS...and as part of this fun and exciting time, will have and enlist others I know to have challenges in the areas we live.  Hopefully this will start the ripple effect throughout the world, one adult, one child, one family, one school, one community, one country and one world at a time.

I wanted to say in closing that I would love to hear what you did to make the world a better place today.  I realize that some of you will not want to embark on sharing this with others and like to do it quietly and without acknowledging your RAKS and I am totally okay with that.  I believe that we can encourage others who may be sitting on the fence by sharing our experiences and or can encourage others to do some of the same things you are doing.  So dont forget this is the first day of the year and your life to take the ordinary deeds into extraordinary deeds and to possibly give someone the HOPE they need to go another mile or to live another day just knowing that someone cared enough to take the time to do something simple for them JUST BECAUSE.

Let's do this together and if you know of others that are making a difference in the lives of others, please share those friends with us and what they are doing.  I am hoping to list a few acts you can do each day, some small and some big but all that will put a smile on an unexpecting face.  Remember that behind every face there is a story that you  may or may not be aware in your life journey.

Acts you can perform today or any day....
1.  Bring a friend a cup of good coffee or Rte 44 soda
2.  Listen to a friend or stranger
3.  Send an email, FB message or text letting others know how much you care and love them
4.  Contact an old friend
5.  Visit a friend/neighbor
6.  Pray for someone else in need
7.  Give a complete stranger and or teenager $5.00 for no reason
8.  Give a neck massage
9.  Help a friend or family member out by doing their laundry, cooking a meal, watching their kids
10.Give away clothes to someone in need or a women's shelter/homeless shelter
11.Volunteer
12.Forgive when you have every right to get upset, be the better person even when it is tough
13.Write a letter by hand and send it to someone, write your child a letter or notes in their lunches
14.Make cards for our soldiers/college student and put stamps on them ready to go
15.Make boxes for our soldiers and send them out...I have some soldiers names and addresses in Afghanistan that you can do this for if you don't know any..
16.Knit gloves and scarfs for cancer patients - my nephew was a recipient of some awesome hats when going through chemo!
17.Share a book
18.Give a hug
19.Pray for someone....when I get requests, I stop right then and do it!  Love being a Prayer Warrior!
20.Be a bone marrow donor - you can go to DKMSamericas.org to request a swab kit by mail for free and give the give of life.  What a wonderful way to start your year!!!   

Let's see if we can get 100 people to join us in the month of January with our Acts of Kindness and Compassion to cultivate JOY in the hearts of others as we change our own hearts, the hearts of our children and families, in our neighborhoods and in our communities.  If we added a hundred new JOY WARRIORS each month we would have 12,000 acts of kindness and compassion daily.  I am recommending that you start and keep a daily journal of your kindness to both yourself and others to see how your life is blessed by your gift of kindness and compassion.  Thanks so much for joining me in this 364 Days plus One of daily acts of goodness and for wanting to change your life and of those paths you cross.  Look for opportunities and seize the moment!

Live with intention and purpose in this minute, this hour, this day and this life with no regrets!!

Diana aka BiT          

Happy New Year 2011!!!!

I am so excited about 2011 and what is ahead for us.  We brought in the new year with one of my best friends and her friends which I enjoyed immensely.  The girls had a great time as you will see from the pictures posted here.  Demi and Cami having a blast and off to a wonderful start to 2011.  I will be back with some news to share about life, my word for '11 and the 365 days of change and what we can all do to make this a better place by living with intention by performing deliberate acts of kindness, compassion and love. 

Also I am reposting my layout for the latest HERO challenge at http://www.candyshoppedesigns.blogspot.com/.  I just love this site and their challenges and love this layout that I created about my brother.  It is one I wanted to make for a long time so here it is.  Love my brother and am so proud of him in every way!  I will take a picture tomorrow so you can see this layout with the correct exposure so just know this looks so much better in real life.

I will be shortly to post some additional challenges that I completed but due to some computer issues was not able to upload earlier.

Here is to a new fresh start for all of us~

xoxoxoxo
BiT

A Couple of Great Stories of Giving and Bringing Hope and Joy.......

What a beautiful and wonderful day, Monday has been!  Let me just start by saying that I am so happy to have Demi home with me.  I missed her so much but am glad my heart is in the right place for her.

Tonight, Demi and I went to her best friends house for Christmas and for to have a sleepover.  While waiting for dinner, Alyssa mentioned that her mom found $300.00 in a card in their door on Christmas Eve.  So my girlfriend explained that when she opened the card she had no idea who it was from or at this point who the card was for...she asked a couple of neighbors and they had no idea either.

So here is a little background on my friend and Demi's best friend.  Demi and Alyssa met 5 years ago in Kindergarten.  Up until last year they have always lived here in TX and our neighborhood.  Three years ago my friend married a childhood friend.  He up and joined the Army needing to find a career and a place to land.  After being in KY for a year, Kacey moved back here for the year while Matt is in Afghanistan.  Let me just say that she has her hands full with 2 little boys under the age of 4.  Needless to say, she is exhausted and I think more than anything worries about Matt and his group of soldiers.

Well, Kacey went out again yesterday to ask one more neighbor and when she asked if this neighbor knew the names on the card, her neighbor told her that it was her daughter and husband that had left that for the.  She had noticed her Army flag while at her mom's house on evening and her mom told of about Kacey and Matt.  They had already decided they wanted to help a military family and so this was who they were going to help.  Now that is what I call a RANDOM ACT Of KINDNESS!!

Can I just say that I think the money was an awesome gift and yes my friend needs the money but it was wonderful to see the renewed hope in her eyes and face tonight.  It was also an awesome teaching moment for our girls about the gift of giving.   I am so happy for her and am so happy that they did this for her, this year, this Christmas! 

Also tonight I went to Walgreens and while there was talking to an employee is so sweet. I had run into her the other night at Good Will.  I was looking for puzzles for Demi to take up to the retirement center where she loves to go to help out with Bingo.  This employee said she had several at home that she would love to give to Demi which I thought was so awesome.  Anyway I left and today was the first time I saw her since then.  She had this huge smile on her face and said to me that some lady at the Goodwill Store had come up to them after I left and gave them 10.00 a piece and said Merry Christmas. 

I wish that whoever gave them the money could see how happy she was telling me the story.  This too is from someone I know could use the money because she has taken in an old friend who has nothing and although that doesn't sound like much, it is everything to those who don't have anything.

I also wish that this neighbor could see how much joy and hope their card and gift has given my friend in a time when times have been tough both emotionally and physically.  She has had so much going on, more than said here so thank you to those who continue to give from your heart.  It really is so sweet if you can do the monetary thing but if not there are still so many ways you can join in the fun and giving. 

I will close by saying that I love my daughter and enjoyed our game night with "just the girls" and love haing Kacey and Alyssa back here in TX.  We had so much fun playing the New Life Game and after playing this game and winning over a MILLION, I think I am going to play the lotto tomorrow after I go to have my blood drawn. 

Have a great Tuesday and remember to hug those you love and let me challenge you to leave someone a nice note/email/card just to say they are loved and appreciated....I will say that there is always more to a person than the outside and you might just be the difference someone needs to keep going.  Start with your family....policemen....trash men who we love to surprise with drinks and snacks....give of your time at a nursing home or retirement home...give of your time with a neighbor....take a meal to a family who you know has gone through tough times or like in my friends case maybe has a loved one away at war...so many things we can do if we just look for the moments and opportunities!

xoxoxo
Diana      

My New Challenge of Giving Kindness, Compassion and Love 365 Days A Year Starting on 1/1/11!!!!!

Good Chilly Monday Morning!

I woke up so excited today.  Excited about getting Demi in a few hours so we can spend some time togetther before she goes back to school and I go back to work.  The best if yet to come because Santa came ehre and we have yet to have our small but fun Christmas.  It will be time to sing to Jesus, a little late but well worth it as we remember the reason for the season.  After all if not for baby J we wouldn't even celebrate this wonderful holiday!  I am also thrilled about the 365 Days of Giving of Love, Kindness and Compassion.  I can't wait to start capturing how the world can change if we all take the time to do one simple act of kindness, compassion and love either randomly and or deliberately.

I will be back shortly to list a few blogs with those who are doing their part to change the world once person at a time.  There are some great books and authors who have jumped on the RAK train.  If you are aware of any plz let us know.

I am thinking too that I will have a new blog just for the 365 Days of Giving and open the forum on what others are doing as well as for them to share how their own lives are changing.  The key to this will be documenting the changes you see as well as how your own life and outlook have changed...isn't that exciting?

Big things in store for the upcoming year...partnering with you and others putting smiles back on the faces of those we encounter each and every day.

xoxoxo
Diana

365 Days of Giving, Compassion and Kindness Starting December 25th....It Is So Much Better to Give Than Receive!!

This upcoming year is going to a year of giving.  Yes 365 days a year because I truly BELIEVE that giving is the best gift you can give yourself and the JOY that comes along with the act is feeling that is so worth taking the time to do. 

Yesterday I started with the gift of giving my daughter time with her dad's family.  Even though I missed her and knew I would, it meant more to me to give her this gift being that she just met and is wanting to spend quality time with her "new" family.  I hope she has had the time of her life and from the sounds of it she has but the good news is she is ready to come home which I am so excited about.  I really missed her and don't know what to do with myself when she is gone.  I hope they enjoyed having her as much as she enjoyed being with them!

My giving today was of a few messages/texts and a birthday wish to friends I adore and love even though I don't get to see them as often as I would like to. 

What will my giving be for tomorrow?  I'm not sure yet but I do know I want to be creative, deliberate and unseen in what "we" do...yes I want Demi on this one tomorrow.  I love RAKS or what some know as Random Acts of Kindness  I hope to have days of random and deliberate.  I also want to make sure my daughter joins me on this journey in the upcoming year.  Wanna join us? 

I can't wait to make a difference, one family, one person and one day at a time!  I will be documenting this like I did with my 365 days of scrapping.  I enjoyed that and am really looking forward to seeing some positive changes in our life and fully expect and BELIEVE that true JOY comes from giving and making someone else's life better.  It warms my heart knowing that there are so many good people in the world and there are so many that care and will do something when they know others are hurting or need help.  I have been on the receiving side this holiday season and I am thankful and humbled and cant wait to give back in ways that we can right now. 

I would love to hear some ways in which you have shared kindness or ways you like to help others.  Thanks for sharing your awesome ideas and thanks for making my day better by coming here as well. 

Kim, thank you for stoppig by this week!  Love you and miss you!

Julie :-))), so hoping you feel better and that you can enjoy the rest of your holidays before the kiddos go back to school.

Again hope you had the merriest of holidays so far and that you are looking forward to a year full of JOY, LOVE and PEACE.

xoxoxo
Diana    

Merry "Christ"mas and Blessings For A Year Filled With JOY, LOVE and PEACE in 2011

Merry "Christ"mas and Blessings For A Year Filled With JOY, LOVE and PEACE in 2011!

xoxoxo,
Diana and Demi

Believe In Miracles....

be·lieve [ bi lv ]

accept something as true: to accept that something is true or real

accept somebody as truthful: to accept that somebody is telling the truth

credit somebody with something: to accept that somebody or something has a particular quality or ability

Synonyms: trust, have faith in, be certain of, have confidence in, accept as true, rely on
 
Today started off huge surprise and answer to a prayer.  Believe in MIRACLES and they will come.  Ou neighbor Bill came over this morning with a card.  We talked for a bit about life, careers and moving.  After he left I opened the card to put up in my walkway and inside was a $100.00.  Yes that's right, 5 $20.00.  I really don't even know what to say.  Thanks doesn't seem like enough especially when I know he was laid off not long ago.  I definitely love our neighbors, some are like parents and most have adopted Demi as another granddaughter.  We will miss them and this neighborhood and the family like feeling you get everyday.  You would have to live it to see and believe how wonderful it really is...but I will make sure that no matter where we live that we will come back.  I know God hears and know our needs as he constantly shows us in answered prayers through wonderful friends like Bill.  
 
Yesterday my BIL brought over the gifts for what I thought was Demi from the teachers at the school where I sub and will be working.  They more or less adopted Demi and again thanks doesn't seem like enough.  I am so grateful and humbled at the kindness that has been shown to us over the last several months.  Not only did they adopt her but there were presents in their for me too.  Thank you "angels"!!
 
Now if only I was getting ready for Santa, last minute wrapping...cookies and milk...but that will not happen here this year.  I am praying that Demi's Christmas in SA is wonderful even after her cousins had to leave to go to their dads?  One thing I am really thankful for today is that over the last 10 years and the years to come, I have and will not have the issues with my dd when it comes to holidays and every other weekends.  I know I have been blessed as has Demi with stability and love here by not having the divorce and custody issues.  She has seen some of that the last couple of days.  Hoping she knows how lucky we are that we have not had that and hopefully her dad and I will continue to have her best interest at heart ALWAYS. 
 
So tonight, I am renting Rust and Triage from Redbox while creating some new layouts for some challenges all while the fireplace is going and my house smells like grandma's kitchen and cookies.  Life is so awesome!  Not the norm but peaceful and warm none the less.  Can't wait to hear about the reindeer food Demi will make and put out soon.  Actually I am curious to hear about the rest of her day and to hear the excitement in her voice about Santa coming there.  She does know her big Santa will be there but she is excited about giving her gifts more than getting gifts.  Love her so much for the wonderful young lady she is..so thoughtful and giving, always wanting to make others happy.  What did I ever do to deserve her?  I dont' know but there isn't a day that goes by that I am not thanking our Heavenly Father. Tomorrow she will be off to her dad's  her 1st Christmas with them.  I hope someone will take pictures for me.
 
So merry christmas eve.....

Santa Came Early For This Mama!

Oh my goodness....I just found out that I won a Xyron Creatopia for the 8th Day of Christmas at Scrapbook and Cards.  I don't even know what it can do but will learn very soon.  I am so excited and cant wait for Santa to deliver it after the new year.  I am so grateful for this awesome gift.  It was a chain of events over the last 2 days that brought me to the blog and giveaway.

First I was at The Brave Girls Club Blog, then off to Teresa Collins Blog, then to Margie Romneys and then to SCT.  All this because I enjoy visiting blogs and seeing new creativity.  Now I will be able to do some creating of my own.  Woohoo!  Not only did I win this but I came across some awesome and new websites, companies and blogs.  It has been an awesome day and again thank you  http://scrapbookandcardstodaymag.typepad.com/scrapbook_cards_today_blo/2010/12/12-days-of-holiday-giving-winners.html#tp for making my holidays this much more special.

Also I got cleared today to move to the next step for becoming an ideal match for bone marrow today  I am beyond thrilled and will do this next week.  After the blood is tested, I will wait for the results and hopefully within 3 months I will be able to help save this 32 year old patient who is in need of a transplant.  God is so awesome.

Today I had a visit from an old friend who just made my day.  The one thing I love to do is print pictures and give them as gifts.  I was hoping/praying for a way to do this on my zero budget and thanks to SBM I will be able to do that.  Not only did she bring me ink but paper and frames.  So blessed and loved and am thankful!

I hope everyone else is having a great holi"day" and now I am off to pick up a few groceries before my mom and brother roll back into town from Chicago.  So proud of my nephew for becoming a Sailor and can't wait to tell him when I see him later today.

xoxoxo
BiT

Finding Joy....

A call from my sweet angel tonight saying she missed me...I miss her and love her so much but am excited about her getting to spend xmas with her father's family and then a quick visit with her daddy on xmas night.  Knowing how happy she is brings me lots of joy n a big way!  (After 10 years of her wanting to know her dad and his family, this has come true and I love her family as if they have been around the last 10 years.)  Even her step mom who seems to struggle with it..probably more to me than Demi but praying in time that we will all be one big happy/ier family since this is all about the children, my child.....

My family who mean everything to me...

Friends who care and that continue to help us out even when it is hard to accept...hoping I can pay them all back someday, someway....

In our home that I love and cherish and the wonderful memories we have created here for 10 years...

My gas fireplace on a cold night...

Flannel sheets.....

Dr Pepper from McDonalds....

Cell phones to stay connected.....

Computers....

Answered Prayers....

My new job.....

Teaching and working with children all day.....

Being a mom...the greatest JOY in the world...best thing that has happened to me...

Scrapbooking community....so many wonderful women in this industry....

Slippers.....

Mints.....

Laundry done......

Kindness and Compassion......

Random Acts of Kindness....

Children's laughter....

Forgiveness...

Second Chances.....

Christmas....

Eternal Life.....

Faith....

Today and the gift of life, although emotional these days I am still happy to find JOY in all our blessings and hope that everyone knows how much they mean to me and how much I appreciate them. 

Dear Demi,

I love you more than life and hope you will remember that anything is possible if you BELIEVE.  Find your place in life and remember to always treat others as you would be treated...find passion in all you do.  Be the change you want to see in the world.  Remember to continue to find ways to be kind and compassionate.  Your faith will carry you through life so it is important to surround yourself with like minded friends and family.  Remember to always do your best and that your education is important.  You know that I am so proud of what you have accomplished so far both as a student and a young lady.  Your laughter and smile is infectious.  You have always had a way of making others feel loved and that God loved them from an early age.  You attract goodness.  Treasure you family and friends and know that you are loved by God, me and all those in our life.  Life is short and I pray you will find lasting JOY in those who surround you.  Material things come and go but family and friends are here till the end and are what is really important.  Live for today and plan for tomorrow.  Be wise with your money and give back to those in need...remember it is all Gods.  I pray you will find true love, a christian who will love you for you and that will treat as you should be treated...with respect and honor till death do you both..wait to give away your heart and soul to that one person whom you will spend your life with sweetheart.   I love you so much and at the end of each day am so thankful that God chose me to be your mom.  To know this kind of love is to know JOY.  I hope you will someday have a family...so that you too will know the kind of love a parent has for a child.  Everyday I thank God for the heart he has given you you, your mind with your kind and loving thoughts and your tongue that speaks of truth and love.  It scares me to think that I will someday be gone and that you will carry on. I pray that I am giving you the love and tools you need to have to lead a JOYful and productive life in society.  Thanks for bringing me so much love and joy in the short 1o years you have been here, I am looking forward to the next 10 years and pray I will be the mother that God intended me to be.  That I will live the life I preach each and every day.  That I am a role model you can look up to everyday and that when I step out of line, can own and do better because I know better.  We make a wonderful and awesome team...TEAM WILLIS.  Together we are better and as we have often talked about, I hope you can and will  forgive me when my mistakes.  I will continue to be the best christian, mom, aunt, daughter, friend, neighbor, teacher that I can be and to find JOY in the blessings from above.  Love, Mommy  xoxoxo 

So where do you find your joy this holiday season?  I find JOY in all the above and want those in my life to know that I love them dearly.  I have found that expressing it verbally is what is best for me.  I say it often and it comes from the heart.  Love this life with all the ups and downs lately and know that if tomorrow comes it is a gift and will enjoy what God has planned for us.  Until then...love and hugs from Texas!!

xoxoxox
BiT

Keeping The Song of Praise in Your Heart.......

I read this today on Joel Osteen's blog and thought it was worth sharing today:

Most of us remember the first time we heard officially on the news that our economy is in a recession. But did you know that the next morning, the birds still woke up and sang? They didn't fall off their branches in unbelief and start flying around here and there worrying, stopping their song.

No, the little birds sang and the big birds sang, and it was like a beautiful symphony.

You might be thinking, "Joel, that's great, birds singing and all; but come on, our economy is in a crisis."

Listen to what Jesus says, "Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure to his stature or to the span of his life? And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will he not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore, do not worry and be anxious, saying, "What are we going to eat? Or "What are we going to have to drink? Or, what are we going to have to wear? But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things taken together will be given to you. So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own." (Matthew 6:26-30, Amplified)

Friends, nothing is new under the sun. They might not have had economists back then with the term "recession", but there have been many who've gone before us that worried about what to eat, drink, wear, where to live, where to send their kids, how to pay for this or that; but God lovingly reminds us that He takes care of the flowers in the field and the birds in the air. How much more valuable are we to Him?

Jesus made it so clear about worrying. How many more days to our life will we added by worrying? Are you going to grow taller? Are you going to grow smarter? Are your problems going to disappear? Worrying does us no good! But what does us good is when we magnify God and not our problems. The Bible even says, "Do not fret, it only leads to evil."

So what are we to do? Trust God, and just like the birds, praise Him. Keep that song of praise in your heart. When the praises go up, the blessings come down. His joy is our strength through the hard times. When you spend your time worrying, you're not putting your faith out there.

Worry says, "I'm not going to get a job. I'm never going to get my retirement back."

The garment of praise says, "Father, I thank you for the victories you've already brought me. Thank you for the favor. Thank you that you're turning my situation around."

One thing I've learned is that you can't worry and praise at the same time.

You can't say, "I know You're on the throne, and You're good all the time. You always cause me to triumph. You make a way when there seems to be no way," and then worry and think, "I don't know how this is going to turn around."

Supernatural things will happen when we praise. Supernatural things do not happen when we worry. Worry does nothing but rob your joy.

You might feel like worrying is getting you somewhere, but it does nothing but zap your strength. We need our energy for the battles in life, and we need the knowledge of who God is during these difficulties to keep singing.

Suddenly, God can change your situation around like Paul and Silas when they were in prison. In the midnight hour, they were set free. But was it from them crying, fretting and wringing their hands, being in despair and complaining? No, they were praising God and the prison door went wide open.

No matter what the news report says about how many points the Dow Jones is down, each day, wake up with great faith and keep your joy and praise God.

And don't forget to enlarge your vision. You can't do that when you're worrying. You might have lost a lot in the stock market, but God can cause you to make back everything you lost, plus more. There is no limit to what God can do. But what does limit Him is when we don't believe, and we allow worry to rob our joy and faith.

This is what Scripture says in Jeremiah 33:11, "'…Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before.' says the Lord."

That means when you wake up, praise God. Believe Him for restoration in your retirement and savings. Believe God for restoration in that business you lost. There is nothing too difficult for God to do. Everything that was stolen can be restored in your life. God always gives us double for our trouble, and He likes to outdo Himself. The question is do you believe He will?

Keep your hopes up. Don't let worry have any room in your heart today.

Keep a song in your heart. And when you wake up in the morning and hear the birds singing, let it remind you to praise God during these difficult economic times. He has the whole world in His hands. In fact, He has you in the palm of His Hand. Nothing is a surprise to Him. If you will stay full of hope and praise, God will show Himself strong in your life, and you will not be disappointed!

Today is going to be a great day!   I am going to  FLY BY FAITH today and BELIEVE that all things are possible with God.   Wanna join me?

Dear God, I'm thankful for Your continued blessings today and the miracles we have had this year and will have today and in the days ahead, Your protection over Demi and I, our families and friends and enlarging  my territory.  I have a grateful heart for the opportunities to show Your love through acts of kindness and compassion with those who cross our paths today.   Thankful for our good health and lifting our servicemen and women up to you today as they sacrifice in so many ways so that we may have freedom.  Lord, thank you for walking with me today in every step I take and for guiding me in the direction I should go today, this month, this year and in this life.  Help me to be the MIRACLE today and to make a positive difference today through YOU!  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Praying you have an awesome day and that you will be blessed beyond belief today.  Remember to enjoy this day, a gift from above! 

xoxoxo
BiT

The (Last) Memories In Our Home.....More Miracles......Mixed Emotions!

Sad feelings, happy feelings...mixed emotions today.

This year and our life in our first and only home are about to come to an end.  I am trying to be strong for Demi but there is a big part of me that is sad and hurting.  I keep thinking as Demi is away how sad this is going to be for her too.  I feel like I have failed her in many ways.  Our last Christmas, her last birthday party, her last walk to school and so this chapter will soon end.

I keep thinking that I just need to get the house all packed up while Demi is gone so that it will be less emotional for both of us.  I did tell Demi when she before she left that I might do this knowing that DPS might serve me the papers asking or demanding us to leave the house.  So that has happened and now it is a matter of days. 

There is still a part of me that wished things would have worked out.  That our mortgage company would have refinanced our home at the lower interest rates but they wouldn't and so here we are today.  The hardest part is that I still don't know where we are going.  What do I take and pack up and what do I try to sell?  These are the moments when I am mentally tired of making all the decisions but when you are a mom, a single mom you don't get a day off because your children depend on you to make those decisions, right or wrong. 

My faith keeps me going and deep down inside I believe this is going to be the best thing for us and I am excited about what is ahead.  I just wish I knew what that is and where we will be this time next month.  There is a part of me that wants to pack up and move far away.  Maybe if I did that the pain of moving and leaving a wonderful neighborhood wouldn't be so hard on both of us.  Again I know that our next home will be filled with the same love and that we will make new memories. 

But today I am taking a day off from being strong for everyone.  I am giving myself permission to grieve and to feel all that I do about what is going on.   I am giving it all to God so that I don't have to feel like I am walking in this alone.  Why does life seem to be so hard, not just for me but for lots of wonderful people?

Miracles have a way of reminding us of happy things that take place in our lives.  Another miracle has taken place this year regarding my career.  As many of you know, I have been self employed for almost 17 years placing military personnel in technical careers.  But with the economy, I was unable to make any money.  I worked for a couple of friends until I started subbing. I found a new passion that I would have never dreamed.  I have absolutely loved being a substitute!  I went this summer to get my teaching certificate and have that almost completed.  If and when I come up with the 120.00 I need to take my content testing which is the grade level substance, I will be completely certified and will be hirable in Texas.  Just 2 weeks ago at the school where my sister has been teaching for the last 20 years, offered me a tutoring position working less hours and making more money.  It is a great opportunity and an answered prayer, another miracle I never saw coming 9 months ago when I started subbing.  So grateful to have be working and that other teachers and staff have adopted my daughter for Christmas this year.  Another miracle!  Without them and their willingess to help, Demi would not have a Christmas.  Did I mention that a couple of months ago someone at our school left me 2 bags of groceries in my truck?  Did I mention this same school put 30.00 in my purse 2 weeks ago that I could buy Demi something and put it under the tree from her mom?  Both my sister and I worked with some pretty incredible angels who keep blessing us with miracles which have restored my faith in people.  I have learned that there are people willing to help if we will just let them.  It has been tough because I like doing this for others..the JOY you get from helping others and being kind is beyond anything I can put into words.  It just dawned on me that this is how they must be filling. Full circle moment!

I am looking to make a miracle happen.  I am still trying to find a company to help me make something wonderful happen for my sister and her family in NC.  I want to bring her some JOY this year.  It has been really tough for her and her husband with the loss of his business too.  I can't imagine, I know how tough it has been having one child and they have 7, 6 of which they still support.  Praying that the same charity that has helped her kids have christmas will be there for them again this year so that her children will experience the JOY that all kids should at this time of the year.         

On a side note, my family drove to Chicago on Sunday to be with my nephew this week as he graduates from the Navy bootcamp.  So happy they will be there for Kyle and I know as hard as it is for my brother to show his emotions, that he is proud of his son.  (We grew up in a home where my parents did not show a lot of emotion.  I am sitting here and cannot think of a time that I have ever seen my mom cry except for the year my dad passed and that first year with holidays.)   

Blessed with Faith.....Good Health....Beautiful Daughter....Wonderful Family.....Awesome Friends.....Angels Helping with Christmas......feeling emotions from all sides and praying God will show me what will be best for Demi and I in the days and months to come.   

**Julie, thank you for always stopping in to say hello. It means the world to me and I am praying that you continued to blessed by God and protected this upcoming year.  Hoping your heart will be filled with JOY and wonderful memories with your children friend!!

Happy Holidays and Love from TX,
BiT